Disclaimer: I don't own gundam wing, only the new characters that I have input into this story (and the places).

Mythical Times

Chapter 9: The Tower

The group traveled northward towards the Tower of the Lost Sorceress. It got colder and windier as they went along. But no matter how nature worked against them, Thorn wouldn't let them stop. She was determined to get some answers and fast. Finally they hit a deserted and snowy land that was void of life.

"This land tells us that we are getting close." Acacia said as her and Hilde's horse pushed through the snow. Heero had taken to a large tiger form and Quatre stayed in his large wolf form. Thorn and Duo were still on the blond wolf's back and Morgyn and Wufei were on Heero's.

"Why is the land like this?" Thorn asked looking at frozen trees.

"When the sorceress Thalia died the land gave up its health after losing her. She was so strongly connected to the woods that used to stand here. All the animals and plants died and violent beasts began moving into this territory but none dare to go near her tower. Not only in fear of the legend but of the towers guardian." Hilde said tightening her cloak and mantle.

"We should watch for those beasts. If we are caught they'll probably kill us and eat us." Acacia stated. Thorn gulped.

"What a wonderful thought." Silence settled over them and they pushed onward, finally Thorn looked up. "So, who is the towers guardian?" She asked.

"No one knows. Some say it is Thalia's enraged lover and others say it is a dragon that was summoned by her dieing breath." Acacia said shrugging. Thorn blinked.

"Wow if it is her lover than he would have had to have loved her very much."

"Well I wouldn't know. Up until now I always though that this was a legend. But you make me think differently." Acacia said. Thorn tilted her head to the side.

"Has anyone ever told you that gold eyes were only given to sorceresses?" Acacia asked.

"No but that might explain a few things."

"And that you look almost exactly like what Thalia was said to look like?"

"No…"

"Those are just a few reasons."

"Quiet you two. We approach the Tower." Hilde said.

"Huh? How can you tell?"

"I can feel it." Heero said sniffing the air. Abruptly the snow ended and it was nothing but green grass that circled a huge stone tower. Ivy vines climbed the walls all the way up to the windows at the top. Thorn froze in her spot on top of Quatre. She recognized this place. The gardens that surrounded the one side of the tower and the tress around it. The black scorch mark on the ground.

The vision of Thalia engulfed in the hot light, screaming and dieing came to mind.

Thorn shivered despite the beauty of the tower and warmth of the area. The raven haired girl looked away from the tower with her gold eyes downcast. She really wished that all this memory type things would stop popping up into her head. She looked up. A moving shadow caught her eye and she watched it as it moved around the group.

Thorn reached down and tugged on Quatre wolf's ear.

"There is someone watching us. They're circling us." Thorn whispered. Quatre looked up and sniffed the air before nodding.

"Yes I smell them. Who ever it is smells human." Quatre mumbled. Quatre's ears twitched and he jumped just as an arrow landed where he had been.

"Who dares to walk this land?" A voice growled from the bushed. The shadow looked human with a bow up and another arrow poised to be launched. Acacia slipped off the horses back and looked at the shadow man.

"We are travelers, seeking to discover our friend's past. This tower may hold some of the answers that we seek." Acacia said. The shadow had no reply and did not move at all. "Please, oh guardian of the Tower, let us stay the night and try to discover the answers we seek. We are weary and have traveled far to be here."

Again there was no reply but the bushes parted and a cloaked figure emerged with a bow and bundle of arrows strapped to its back. He pulled back the hood of his cloak. Thorn nearly fell off Quatre as she stared at the boy. He looked no older than her with long spiky brown bangs and forest green eyes. Actually, she recognized him as the boy she had seen in the market place. She blinked.

He did the same thing when he saw her. Duo must have noticed that the boy was staring at her because he growled lightly under his breath and placed a protective arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. The black haired girl let out a little 'eep' and instantly Quatre whipped Duo off of her and off of his back with his tail. Seconds later Thorn was staring down at Duo who was now on the ground rubbing his sore back side muttering "stupid wolf boy." That earned Duo a kick from Quatre.

The wolf then trotted to the other side of the group with Thorn on his back and glared at the braided elf. Hilde began to giggle as she watched the show and everyone else just sort of ignored Duo and Quatre's rivalry. Morgyn had rolled her eyes before going back to looking at the boy.

"You may stay here, if that is what you wish." The boy said. Thorn smiled gratefully at the boy. He looked at her weirdly, while shifting uneasily (although his face betrayed no emotion), before looking away. He nodded looking at the huge pillar of ivy covered stone. "Follow me then." He said walking away through one of the gardens toward the tower. One by one the general stillness that had held the group diminished and they followed the boy.

The horse was tethered to a nearby tree, where an abundance of long grass grew and human forms were assumed as they followed the bow equipped boy.

A small rock path with flowers on each side made its way up to the entrance. The door was a simple arch with runic symbols around the opening and a flap of cloth for keep out the chill (only slightly). The boy pulled the flap to the side. Morgyn and Heero went through first, to ensure safety, and gave the boy a look before turning back to the group.

"Come on." Morgyn waved. Acacia, Hilde, Wufei, Duo and then Thorn and Quatre made up the rear.

Upon entry they were all assaulted…

…by the smell of herbs and spices (haha fooled yah)

The pathway that led up a flight of spiral stairs was lit by torches. Frescos were painted upon the walls and a large mosaic of a beautiful white unicorn rearing up on its hind legs in the middle of a forest lay in the center of the floor. Four runes were written around it. Thorn recognized them from the training her grandmother had given her in the ancient 'psychic' ways. One was the symbol Mannaz, another Berkana, Dagaz, and Odin. The Germanic runes meaning the human race/man, life, prosperity, and destiny.

Thorn spoke the Germanic names slowly (to pronounce them right seeing as though she was a little out of practice with ancient languages). A picture, or memory, came to her of Thalia, the girl she so resembled, standing in the same place as Thorn was looking over the same mosaic. The raven hared girl shook her head and looked up at the group she traveled with, who were all now looking at her expectantly.

"Is everything alright, Thorn? You just sort of stopped and got this faraway look in your eyes." Quatre asked placing a concerned hand on her shoulder. Thorn looked up in to his innocently blue eyes and smiled.

"Oh I'm fine, Quatre. Thanks for asking." Thorn said. Quatre nodded. Duo, unwilling to let the scene become anymore sappy the werewolf and Thorn (the elf was still envious of the werewolf who got all of Thorns attention), cleared his throat.

"Thorn, the guardian had offered to take us up stairs for proper sleeping arrangements." Duo said making a face at Quatre when Thorn walked away with a nod to talk to the guardian. Quatre growled lightly, eyes glittering dangerously before he looked away. The blond wolf was determined not to fight with Duo over his little green streaks of jealousy. Soon everyone filed out of the main 'lobby' to go upstairs while Quatre and Duo were left staring at each other. Once they realized that they were all alone they both scampered up the stairs, now having a race at who could get to Thorn's side faster.

The young man led them to separate rooms around the tower in the upper levels. Acacia and Hilde shared a room. Heero and Morgyn shared another. Wufei and Duo shared a room and Quatre got his own room. After much arguing that is. Duo would not stand for Quatre to get his own room, although the braided elf was glad that the werewolf hadn't gotten a room with Thorn.

Thorn looked to the green eyed boy questionably.

"Where am I going to sleep?" Thorn asked pointing to herself. He stared down at her, as if deciding something before pointing to a stairway that led upward. Thorn blinked.

"There is another room upstairs that you can use." He said. The raven haired girl nodded. He started off toward the stairs with Thorn trailing behind him.

"So what's your name?" Thorn asked, making small talk. He looked over at her with those beautiful forest green eyes and felt like it wasn't the first time that she had stared up into them.

"My name is Trowa." He answered, and then looked away from her gold eyes. There was a certain familiarity when he spoke his name. Another vision nearly caused her to fall down the stairs. She probably would have fallen if Trowa hadn't noticed her sudden tilting backwards and caught her in his arms.

Thorn shook her head to rid herself of the unwanted blurredness of the vision. Still, dazed as she was and unaware of her actions, Thorn rested her head against his broad chest with a sigh and melted into the warmth. Trowa was frozen as he felt her cuddle up to him.

Finally Thorn seemed to realize where she was and pushed away from him with crimson cheeks. She stuttered an apology before bounding up the stairs, leaving a very confused Trowa behind her. With a shrug, he followed her up. He was unaware though, as he left up the stairs, of the two pairs of glaring eyes behind him.

"He's moving in on Thorn."

"Yes he is. We can't let that happen."

"Temporary truce?"

"Yes."

And the two figures, an elf and a werewolf, silently followed the young man up the stairs.

Thorn rested her elbows against the cold stony window frame with a sigh and enjoyed the view that she got from the highest point in the entire tower. Over the green tree tops she saw the abrupt change in climate as an endless plain of white stretched out beyond the living forest. Her gold eyes took in all of it and she became lost in the elements.

The raven haired girl then turned her gaze to the ground below that was littered with gardens. Her vision blurred and she saw another flash back of some sort. It was like she was the wind watching her previous self and the boy Trowa from outside her body.

Clink

Thalia looked at the small stone that lay on the floor. Another followed it.

"Thalia." She walked toward the window at the sound of her name and looked down. There, standing amongst the flowers was Trowa. Beside him was his mahogany mare.

"What is it, Trowa?" She called down to him. He bowed.

"I wanted to ask you if you would come down and take a ride with me." He asked. She shook her head.

"I can not, Trowa. My father would get angry. My brother, Trieze, is sick and I'm taking care of him." Thalia said gesturing into the window where on her bed lay her little brother sleeping with a wet cloth across his forehead. Below, Trowa blinked.

"Then may I ask to come up and help? Two hands are better than one." He smiled up at her. Thalia smiled and nodded.

"Fine then, sir Trowa. You may come up and keep this lady company while I tend to my brother."

Trowa nodded and smiled. So did Thalia as she watched him enter the tower.

Thorn fell back on her rear as the force of the vision ended with a burst of light. At the same moment she it the ground, Trowa appeared in the doorway looking confused and trying to hide it. She looked up at him from her position on the floor.

"What are you looking at?" Thorn said annoyed. She stood up and patted her sore back side.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. I was staring outside and must have just gotten a little dizzy. That's all." Thorn lied. Trowa looked like he bought it and he didn't ask any further questions. The raven haired girl was glad. Trowa pointed at something on the one side of the room. Thorn followed his finger and stared at the nice bed. It was well made with carved wood and a stuffed mattress. There were lots of pillows and blankets, most were homemade woven ones.

Suddenly she was staring at another vision. One of Thorn and Trowa kissing and embracing each other. When she came back to reality she was blushing and Trowa was staring at her. Thorn blinked and sat down on the bed.

"Trowa…can I ask you something?"

"Hm?" She looked up at him.

"How old are you?" She asked. He blinked. She stared up at him expectantly. "Well?"

"Why?"

"Just because…"

"How old do you think I am?"

"Stop avoiding the question. You look young but you could be older than you look." He blinked.

"…" Silence filled the room. Both of them didn't speak. Thorn was ready to cry. She had to know; was Trowa the same guy from the flash backs? Because if he was then he would have to be pretty old.

"Are you immortal Trowa?" Thorn asked quietly. Now he looked surprised. He looked like a man-eating antelope had just taken a bite out of him.

"How…?" He stuttered. Thorn shrugged.

"Just a guess." He recomposed himself and walked up to her until he was so close she could feel his body heat.

"Now let me ask you something."

Thorn blushed at the closeness but nodded hesitantly.

"Do you happen to be…" He leaned in closer to her. Thorn gulped. At the same moment there was a crash and there, in the doorway and on his face, lay Duo and above him Quatre. They both glared at Trowa, who looked utterly surprised. With superhuman speed both the elf and the werewolf got up and were over pulling Thorn behind them in seconds.

"Don't even think of laying a hand on Thorn!" Duo glared. Quatre was the same. Thorn blinked and so did Trowa. Her blush had cooled down to a pale pink tint. Duo paused from his glaring to flick his long elf ears.

"What's that?" Quatre stopped glaring too. His little (cute ^o^!) wolf ears popped onto his head and they flicked back and forth once or twice.

"I hear it too." Thorn scooted over to the window and looked out. She blinked.

"Hey guys…"

"Not now Thorn. We hear something." Duo said flicking his elf ears. Thorn pointed out the window.

"I want to ask what that is because that might be making the noise you hear." Thorn said looking at the moving black blob in the distance against the white of the snow past the trees. Duo, Quatre, and Trowa all came towards her and looked out the window.

"What the…?"

~Owari.

Raven: Sorry to leave you hanging. Hopefully I'll have the final chapter up soon after this. Sorry that it's short and not exactly the best but it'll do (hopefully) for all you loyal readers. Keep reading and don't miss the finale of Mythical Times; chapter 10.